Wear-resistant head for reel



Nov. 26, 1968 J. A. MORRIS WEAR-RESISTANT HEAD FOR REEL Filed June 28, 1967 8 3 f E 0 v M W 4 A m d JY B Z F r," M m .u

United States 3,412,953 WEAR-RESISTANT HEAD FOR REEL James A. Morris, Decatur, Ala, assignor to Metco, Incorporated, a corporation of Alabama Filed June 28, 1967, Set. No. 649,636 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-118.8)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention This invention relates to a reel or spool of the type used for reeling wire or the like. As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, reels for receiving Wire, such as electrical conductors, must be unusually strong due to the fact that the wire is often put on the reel while hot and then contracts. Also, some wire is heat treated while on the reel whereby considerable expansion and contraction takes place, thus causing tremendous stresses to be exerted on the heads of the reel so that the heads warp if they do not have sufficient strength to withstand the forces exerted thereagainst. It is very desirable that the heads of such reels maintain their shape in planes at right angles to the axis of the drum and that the drum maintains axial, concentric alignment with the hub of the reel to permit high speed operation of the reel without vibrating or wobbling. This is especially true since such reels are often rotated whereby the wire moves at a rate of from to 12 thousand feet per minute as it is wound onto the drum. Difficulties have also been encountered in maintaining a smooth bearing surface at the edges of the heads where the wire or cable engages the heads due to the fact that excessive wear occurs at this location.

Brief summary of invention To overcome the above and other difiiculties, I provide a reel in which the parts thereof are positioned accurately both axially as well as radially relative to the axis of rotation of the reel. Disk-shaped heads are secured rigidly to the hub inwardly of the ends thereof and dished plates are secured to the ends of the hub with outer portions of the plates extending inwardly and secured rigidly to the outer surface of the heads. Annular, inwardly opening grooves are provided in the heads for receiving the ends of the drum and a hard, metal weld secures a rim member to the outer peripheral surface of each head to provide a bearing surface.

A reel embodying feature of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the reel;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the reel, partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmental, sectional view showing one head of the reel and the manner in which it is attached to the hub and drum; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmental, sectional view showing a modified form of my invention.

atent C Patented Nov. 26, 1968 Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show a reel having a cylindrical hub 10. Secured rigidly to the hub 10 inwardly of each end thereof by welding at 11 are radially extending, discshaped heads 12. A centrally disposed opening 13 is provided in each disc-shaped head 12 for receiving the hub 10, as shown, whereby the hub projects outwardly of each head .12.

An annular, inwardly opening groove 14 is provided in each head 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The annular grooves 14 are concentric with the centrally disposed openings 13 and the grooves in both heads are spaced equal distances from the centrally disposed openings 13. Surrounding the hub 10 is a cylindrical drum 16 having its ends fitting snugly within the annular grooves 14. The ends of the drum 1 6 are secured rigidly, by welding at 17, to the heads 12 whereby the ends of the drum are anchored within the annular grooves 14 to thus retain the drum 16 in axial, concentric alignment with the hub and at right angles to the heads 12.

Secured to the outer ends of the cylindrical hub 10 by welding at 18 are dished plates 19, each having a centrally disposed opening 21 therein which telescopes over the end of the hub 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The inner portion of the dished plate 19 extends generally parallel to the head 12 while the outer portion of the dished plate 19 extends inwardly as at 22 whereby the outermost edge of the dished plate 19 engages and is secured to the outer surface of the head 12 by welding as at 23. A plurality of angularly spaced openings 24 are provided in the dished plate 19 for receiving detents or pins for a rotary drive member, such as 'a dog or the like.

A plurality of angularly spaced openings 27 are provided in the head 12 for tying the inner end of the cable or wire wound on the drum 16. Also, angularly spaced openings 28 are provided adjacent the periphery of the heads 12 for tying the outer end of the wire or cable wound on the reel.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer peripheral edge of each head 12 is cutaway as at 29 and secured to the outer surface of the head 12 adjacent the cutaway portion 29 is an annular rim member 31. The peripheral edge of the rim member 31 opposite the cutaway portion 29 is cutaway as at 32 to provide a deep and relatively wide opening for receiving a hard, metal weld 33 whereby the rim member 31 is secured rigidly to the adjacent head 12 and at the same time a relatively large, hard bearing surface is provided. Preferably, the rim member 31 is also secured to the head 12 by welding as at 34 to add rigidity to the heads 12. After the hard metal weld has been applied between the cutaway portions 29 and 32, the outer, peripheral edge of the head 12 and the adjacent rim member 31 is rounded, as shown, to present the hard metal weld as a bearing surface. By providing a deep, hard metal weld at the peripheral juncture of the head 12 and the rim member 31, the bearing surface is retained after the peripheral edge of the head and rim member have been rounded to compensate for wear. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the annular rim member 31 is of a thickness for the outer surface thereof to be in radial alignment with the end of the cylindrical hub 10.

In FIG. 4 of the drawing, I show a modified form of my invention in which an annular band 36 surrounds the cylindrical hub 10 intermediate each head 12 and the dished plate 19 adjacent thereto. The band 36 is secured rigidly to the adjacent surfaces of the head 12 and the dished plate 19 by welding. With the exception of the annular band 36, the construction of the reel shown in FIG. 4 is identical to that shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of my improved reel will be readily understood. The annular recess 14 is machined at the same time the centrally disposed opening 13 is formed in the head 12 whereby the recess 14 is concentric with the opening 13. Accordingly, upon assembling the reel, the ends of the cylindrical drum 16 are anchored within the annular recesses 14 to thus position the drum accurately relative to the heads 12 without any chances of the drum being mounted in misalignment with the heads. With the heads 12 secured rigidly to the hub 10 and drum 16, the dished plate 19 is secured rigidly to the hub and the outer portion of the plate 19 is secured to the outer surface of the head 12 to thus reinforce the head whereby it can withstand considerable lateral forces thereagainst.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved reel which is extremely simple of construction, economical of manufacture and one: in which the annular grooves 14 for receiving the hub are accurately machined at the same time the centrally disposed opening is formed thus reducing the time and effort required to machine the heads and at the same time providing means for aligning the drum and heads accurately at the time of installation whereby the parts are positioned accurately relative to the axis of rotation of the reel both axially as well as radially. The accurate alignment of the heads relative to the drum and hub assures smooth operation of the reel at both fast and slow speeds thus preventing wobbling and vibration of the reel which would bring about considerable wear to the heads and wire making equipment. Also, by providing a dished plate 19 which is secured to the hub at a location outwardly of the head 12, together with the inturned, outer portion which is secured rigidly to the outer surface of the head, the head is strengthened greatly to withstand lateral forces. The annular band 36 inserted between the head and the dished plate adds further to the strength of the heads and the overall strength of the reel. Furthermore, by providing the hard metal weld at the juncture of the head and the annular rim member, a. relatively wide bearing surface is provided which increases the life of the reel and at the same time the peripheral edge of the head may be machined to compensate for wear without destroying the hard bearing surface.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations 7 shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. What I claim is: 1. A wear resistant head for a reel comprising: (a) a cylindrical hub, (b) a disc-shaped head adjacent each end of said hub, there being a centrally disposed opening through each disc-shaped head of a size to receive an adjacent end of said hub with said adjacent end of the hub projecting outwardly of said head,

(d) means securing said heads rigidly to said hub,

(e) there being an annular, inwardly opening groove in each head concentric with said centrally disposed opening therein with the grooves in both heads being equal distances from said centrally disposed openings,

(f) a cylindrical drum surrounding said hub with the ends of said drum fitting within said annular grooves in the heads,

(g) means securing the ends of said drum rigidly to said heads with the ends of said drum anchored within said annular grooves and retaining said drum in axial, concentric alignment with said hub and at right angles to said heads,

(11) a dished plate at each end of said hub having a centrally disposed opening therein for receiving said hub with the outer portion of said dished plate extending inwardly into engagement with the outer surface of the head adjacent thereto,

(i) means securing the inner portion of each dished plate rigidly to the end of said hub with said inner portion spaced outwardly from the head adjacent thereto,

(j) means securing said outer portion of each dished plate rigidly to the outer surface of the head adjacent thereto,

(k) an annular rim member adjacent the outer surface of each head, and

(l) a hard metal weld secured each annular rim member to said outer surface of each head adjacent the periphery thereof with the peripheral edge of said head and rim member being rounded to present said hard metal weld as a bearing surface.

2. A wear resistant head for a reel as defined in claim 1 in which said hard metal weld is deep to present said bearing surface after the peripheral edge of the head and rim member have been rounded to compensate for wear.

3. Areel as defined in claim 1 in which said annular rim member is of a thickness for the outer surface thereof to be in radial alignment with the end of said hub.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,635,495 7/1927 Odquist 242118.8 1,666,404 4/1928 Brucker 242--ll8.1 X 1,920,422 8/1933 Mills 242118.8 2,262,113 11/1941 Olson 242118.6 2,284,426 5/ 1942 Howsam 24277.4 2,514,932 7/1950 Bureau et al 24277.3 2,521,922 9/ 1950 Kurtz 24277.3 2,753,622 7/1956 Bieber et al 24277.3 X

GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner. 

